Flacco's agent rips Ravens: I've never seen a dumber move

May 27, 2013
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In this Jan. 22, 2012 file photo, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco celebrates after his seven-yard touchdown pass to Baltimore Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta (88) during the first half of the AFC Championship NFL football game against the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Mass. / Winslow Townson, AP

Flacco took some heat this offseason for his then-record deal after New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, and just recently Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning restructured their deals to create salary-cap relief.

Some fans blamed Flacco's big payday for the roster purge that included the trade of wide receiver Anquan Boldin to the San Francisco 49ers and the free-agent departures of safety Ed Reed and linebackers Dannell Ellerbe and Paul Kruger.

Flacco's agent, Joe Linta, told USA TODAY Sports that such perceptions are misguided because the Ravens had the chance to provide their own cap relief last August when Flacco walked away from a five-year extension that would have averaged $16 million a year, including last year's $6.7 million left on his rookie contract.

The impasse could have been averted had the Ravens stepped up over what Linta said was an extra $1 million in the final year.

The dispute was about "$1 million six years from now, in the base salary non-guaranteed money, and they walked away," Linta said. "It cost them $35 million. So I have no sympathy. None.

"I've never in my life seen a dumber move. I guess people can say, 'Well, Joe was dumb, too.' It could have been (dumb), God forbid, if he got hurt. But $1 million to Steve Bisciotti six years from now? That's like 100 bucks for you or me today.''

Cornerback Corey Graham agrees that Flacco shouldn't take any flak for getting what he deserved.

"I feel the critics are wrong,'' Graham said in a break from the Ravens recent workouts. "Five, six years ago, Brady was one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the game also.

"Joe's in his prime and this is his first opportunity to get a big pay day. So you can't knock someone for wanting to max out and get as much as they possibly can.

"Brady now is on the back of his career, so he may have had to take a pay cut," Graham said. "And Peyton, too. Five, six years maybe the Ravens can go to Joe and he'll get a little less money.''

Linta knows the Ravens will likely be forced to restructure Flacco's deal when it inflates to a $28.55 million salary-cap figure before to the 2016 season.

The Patriots recently gave Brady a $30 million signing bonus in return for extending his deal by three years, in effect giving him the chance to retire a Patriot.

The Broncos recently tweaked Manning's five-year, $96-million deal when they purchased $10 million in insurance to protect themselves against a non-neck injury suffered either this season or next. In return, the Broncos received $2.5 million in cap relief this season and next.

"I'm not apologetic for the fact this is really a three-year deal, there's no way they can afford $29 million a couple of years from now,'' Linta said. "I'm not apologetic. They chose to walk away.''

For those worried how Flacco will handle his new-found wealth, Linta said to forget about it.

"Joe will always have that fire -- regardless whether he gets $500 million or $5 an hour, he'll have that fire. I never worry about him. He's had a good offseason. I expect him to come out with a lot of fire in his eyes."